[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6080377,"mediaKeyId","2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869","parentId",2947721,"title","Board members press for more professional development as teachers resign; debate over evaluation and culture","audioSeconds",266,"startMs",2566000,"endMs",2832000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869&start=2566&end=2832","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869/thumbnail_2566000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6080377/Illinois/Board-members-press-for-more-professional-development-as-teachers-resign-debate-over-evaluation-and-culture","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080377-72915306a58a6acac4b2bb291917f0e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147622&Signature=UC6PPkFH9F1Vh-RsoKZ1g1BHRXzO2JE2TskeAk36HjuYr9jn68s-nfAIwbnIkUZQZtvXb9m952w7HOL5kXEuG56bSJY0jBzsJtx3Sn39sG3RL1FPVeUkAlFG7uGfTFHOduIhcNBjbcr4sQUki~I7ORXXFzKofGQlswkSn~Y6BAsn~3xJPpLK1moiMvJRuOx8gRYLg~DfHVELt~N7BhfqN2qtmVh~tV0b0uZqggsOr-36dovEmQQ5XWB6gbH1RFcj7W~MktNn2gvAc91YsP4E4uZ0LMUbNL3u0B4q0LRnvYb8g2EmH16ySCUc~JNCUzfPMVWxGvjBztTmEVjAenS~Pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Waukegan CUSD 60","date","2025-04-09T14:10:21Z","article","Board members used the personnel agenda discussion on April 8 to highlight growing concerns about teacher resignations and staff turnover and to press for increased professional development and stronger internal coaching.

During approval of personnel schedules, Miss Hannah and other board members noted nine teacher resignations listed in the personnel packet and called the turnover “disturbing.” Hannah urged renewed focus on remediation, coaching and a teacher academy model rather than dismissal. Board members Mister McBride and Miss Gonzales said district climate and culture issues were contributing factors and argued for conflict resolution and internal supports rather than immediate removal of staff.

Miss Lindsay said she supports professional development but asked for accountability: board members should see “what did you learn? What are you bringing back?” She said she had previously requested administrative professional development impact data and had not received it. Miss Gonzales called for increased investment in professional development and encouraged the district to fund internal training as part of improvement strategies. Several members stressed that some turnover results from international recruitment and personal choices; others emphasized that principals’ evaluation and supervision are central to addressing performance issues.

The personnel motion approving appointments, retirements, resignations and other HR items (schedules F1002, L949, T317, G660) passed by roll call. Board discussion emphasized that while some terminations reflect legitimate performance concerns, the board should also invest in supports and clearly track the impact of training and coaching.

Ending: Board members agreed to follow up through the district’s existing committee and evaluation processes; one member requested additional reports on the impact of professional development and administrative evaluations to guide retention and improvement decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 8th, 2025 - Board of Education Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Board members raised concerns at the April 8 meeting about teacher resignations and district climate, urging increased internal professional development, better accountability for training and attention to staff retention amid recent resignations.","taxTitle","Waukegan CUSD 60, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",14972,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6080382,"District reports monthly site visits, new phonics curriculum tied to end‑of‑unit gains in K–5",470,4392000,4862000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869&start=4392&end=4862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869/thumbnail_4392000.jpg","/articles/6080382/Illinois/District-reports-monthly-site-visits-new-phonics-curriculum-tied-to-endofunit-gains-in-K5","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080382-946c8844ec43d2b7e90f6d34e811c6fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147622&Signature=X0oy3KXS11QJLCbVvko2SZpm~LeoaM~68xVHmdErgW0Y2Ifzm4EwWMwubxiE2YkgulOUpqhXBnJhgUQDiIoWo~4JTs8ui53ZEUn-Zix4gd5v-J45vNdot45Vigf4wmLS1O2pW9L1mYEIDcaEKGYwm3tSfNlPZLAnb~ZvgpTWj7-WNN64Od4AEeuBs2SpnpUdg57JawM-NwRBZWmjLLbhH7XX6xZw~u8Zu94OparV4TVoOJ9-SeD71uSYbCqucHiSPqvoAHnfGFngF2F~t348aHb0Rg6xGM3cYFDWFmcf7sIHpnI6gTbJgSV93~A0O2CXVx9XyEOI7xwdSp1hf6hMBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District academic staff told the board on April 8 that monthly site visits tied to the district’s Destination 2028 goals and the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan have produced actionable classroom‑level data and trends that administration says show steady improvement in Tier 1 instruction.

Assistant directors and instructional staff described a protocol of monthly visits to every school, classroom walkthroughs, and a common tool for K–5 literacy observations designed in collaboration with the teachers’ union. The team said each month has a focus (for example, opening of schools in August, Tier 1 implementation September–January, School Improvement Plan and site‑based budgeting feedback in February, and Tier 1 wrap‑up in March–April). Schools prepare data in advance and leaders meet with district teams to compare trends and identify supports.

District presenters said end‑of‑unit assessment data across literacy and mathematics show “continual improvement” from beginning‑of‑year to middle‑ and end‑of‑year visits, and that the number of students in the lowest performing band on end‑of‑unit measures has declined. When board member Miss Lindsay asked whether “end of unit” was a test, district staff clarified the measure is the curriculum‑aligned unit assessment (not MAP or state IAR), given at the end of a unit of instruction.

The presenters also noted the district has rolled out a phonics approach and that K–5 results show more students are reading better and fewer are reading worse; they said the district implemented a phonics curriculum for grades 3–5 last year and built K–5 common observation tools this year. The district is comparing a program called Emera in seven schools against a similar Tier 1 program and plans to report comparative results at year end.

Ending: District staff characterized the site‑visit process as a leadership‑level intervention that supports aligned Tier 1 instruction, produces consistent data across schools and informs professional development and budget choices for the coming year. The board was briefed that the district will continue to analyze end‑of‑unit and other assessment data and report progress to the board.","District instructional staff reported monthly Tier 1 site visits across K–8 schools and shared end‑of‑unit assessment trends showing increases in students meeting/exceeding and decreases in lowest‑performing bands after phonics and math curriculum implementation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6080388,"Speakers at Waukegan board meeting sharply criticize superintendent, board counsel and district management",424,976000,1400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869&start=976&end=1400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869/thumbnail_976000.jpg","/articles/6080388/Illinois/Speakers-at-Waukegan-board-meeting-sharply-criticize-superintendent-board-counsel-and-district-management","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080388-3095d079e9e728240d4766b4624bb472/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147622&Signature=RWLzpQ21zefxvcJed0rHOzFdSo1JwLGhm0VttSikX7a2cs51Cfk7-FpcgfoAnkk3ZHqkTHf~KzjH7S7rHhFQBEOBMakmxw278QjHBc9aOe4KE53OtocCn9M0PnXyt3BnDbT86UACgMZJPHLdU1o1aLz~l4H6js1QWFlfdQOQkdM2tCMPFhovqwmdwaeF9crPZYUoYC97prIcqjdL~R70Mt74DGHeq9mh5-ZNK3Vf2w7pJVAWdVNIrIT2tXoIUcjOMVtv9pdUQED2m0n9w4RZ094npwMsDOQOOt0QCUZddUTbDeKlFwglsnzebyl5WT0RKftMm~6bP0gJf4SpzDuGJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several community members used the public‑comment period at the April 8 Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education meeting to criticize district leadership and call for changes.

Speakers including Krista Sanchez, Renee Barnes and Mister Edwards addressed the board. Krista Sanchez described a long history of involvement in district schools and said she was “asked…to do additional background checks” when volunteering, said she had been pressured in district employment matters and asserted she was “being terminated because I speak up.” Renee Barnes, who said she worked for the district for 18 years and has an adult child with mental health needs, said her family’s FMLA paperwork had been “messed up” for nearly a year and that she had lost pay while seeking resolution. She said she had sought assistance from the union and human resources but had not received a timely response.

Mister Edwards and other public commentators pressed the board on superintendent conduct and the district’s legal counsel. A speaker identified as Mister Edwards said the superintendent “was here” in closed session for an evaluation but has been absent from public meetings, and that he would “be asking this community to get behind a petition because it's time for us to trash this attorney that this board has hired.” Multiple public speakers criticized how disciplinary or personnel matters have been handled, raised concerns about perceived uneven treatment in investigations and referenced a recent incident described in the meeting as a student being taken from class by police.

Public speakers included allegations and strongly worded claims about district leadership. One commenter said the district was “paying this woman almost $500,000 when you add benefits, insurance, and allowances, and…bonuses,” and urged removal of the superintendent and the board attorney. Another commenter called for the district to apply the law equally in student discipline regardless of family relationships with board members.

Board members responded in part by directing staff to follow up: board president and staff indicated Mr. Moten and other administrators would address individual concerns (for example, providing contact for Human Resources). The board also closed public comment and moved to the consent agenda and business items.

Ending: The public‑comment segment recorded vocal dissatisfaction from multiple community members about district leadership, HR responsiveness and legal representation. Those issues were not the subject of an immediate board motion during the meeting; speakers were told staff would follow up for individual matters.","Multiple members of the public used the April 8 Waukegan CUSD 60 public‑comment period to criticize the superintendent’s attendance and performance, call for replacement of the board attorney, and raise concerns about staff treatment and transparency; speakers asked the board to act on personnel and governance issues.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6080393,"Board approves consent items, personnel actions and expulsion modification; ratifies April payments",2003,3529000,5532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869&start=3529&end=5532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2947721-e7c17f1b90b842963b4e176c64ac0869/thumbnail_3529000.jpg","/articles/6080393/Illinois/Board-approves-consent-items-personnel-actions-and-expulsion-modification-ratifies-April-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6080393-f3a90c8d64ba2b74b9c92ba260eb25fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147622&Signature=iS5NPixUx2Tf9zp929ucFHnYFInBziaV-STXPRZnyt9pxfqQghFPh6NR1dPUqIKwhmEG5aAqFx1GwkIkY-NNL1BkbT8kt2SZ-m76V1D~IeS-jq8T52hF-5UV7B2Ny9OpzEO8B~HdRQye9tmZ48xZD8-1cjmotHp8JfjSjSoPTkbCbDM6HE~d~ik1xFV3XSQ6hFnC43ra9aS6mrM23nGCM2imVZDzsX-frT47cb1x~BOws9eqdA1mi4tGaPTSsr4hkPeEr~cPEXqVGPb8JueOIYR1YOj-e6uPjoGELl11YwsHASfXLkXYk56ryp170y9wjuwxZg2XE09bTsDeIt76~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education on April 8 approved a package of consent agenda items, personnel recommendations and district payments and voted to concur with a superintendent‑recommended modification to a mandatory expulsion.

The actions were taken by roll call after routine motions to approve minutes, consent items, personnel schedules and financial reports. The board also adopted a resolution modifying a mandatory expulsion required under the school code for a student identified in the district documents as student number 015, reducing the expulsion to a five‑day out‑of‑school suspension with an individualized safety plan.

Board members approved minutes from the district’s February 25, March 11 and March 18 open sessions. The consent agenda (items 10a–10n and related operations items) included multiple curriculum renewals and purchases: renewals of core phonics materials for grades 3–5, curriculum‑embedded coaching for grades 3–5, Everyday Math materials (K–5), DreamBox (K–5), an updated intergovernmental agreement for a college and career navigator at Washington Campus, consumable ESL materials (grades 9–12), Spanish language arts materials (grades 6–12), Chromebook purchases for Cristo Rey Saint Martin College Prep, PowerSchool evaluation platform renewal for 2025–26, E‑Rate network fiber and cable projects, Sophos antivirus renewal, Gaggle and Nutanix contract renewals, and other listed renewals and purchases. The consent motion was moved by Mister Riddle and seconded by Miss Fabian and carried on a roll‑call vote with all members voting in the affirmative.

The board approved additional operations and construction pay applications and renewals (item 11 series) and approved personnel recommendations on schedules F1002, L949, T317 and G660 (item 13a), including appointments, retirements, retirement extensions, resignations and terminations. The personnel motion was moved by Miss Riddle and seconded by Miss Gonzales and carried on roll call. Appointments announced in open session included Tobias Huey as a culture and climate specialist at Washington Campus (starting salary listed as $60,000) and Melissa Howlett as deputy general counsel (starting salary listed as $165,000); those appointments were part of the personnel schedules presented to the board.

On financial matters, the board ratified the first April 2025 processing of board bills, manual check requests and Old National Bank insurance payments for the period March 5–April 1, 2025. The administration reported accounts payable board payments of $3,745,188.03, manual check request payments of $1,755,556.81 and Old National Bank insurance payments of $906,325.90. The motion to ratify the financial reports was moved by Mister Riddle and seconded by Miss Gonzales and carried on roll call.

On a disciplinary matter, the board considered a resolution regarding student number 015. The resolution, read into the record by Mister Riddle, stated that a building‑level investigation found the student possessed a weapon at school, triggering a mandatory referral for expulsion under the school code. The superintendent had recommended modifying the mandatory minimum expulsion period; the board “concurs with the superintendent's modification of the mandatory minimum expulsion period to 5 days out of school suspension, the days having been served, a board reprimand, and an individualized safety plan.” The motion to approve the resolution was made by Miss Bridal and seconded by Miss Lindsey; the motion carried by voice/roll call.

Votes at a glance (motions explicitly recorded in the transcript):
- Approve minutes (02/25/2025, 03/11/2025, 03/18/2025) — Motion(s) carried (movers/second varied as recorded).
- Approve Consent Agenda items 10a–10n (curriculum renewals, Chromebook purchase for Cristo Rey Saint Martin College Prep, E‑Rate network projects, software renewals, etc.) — Motion by Mister Riddle; seconded by Miss Fabian; approved on roll call.
- Approve Operations consent items (11a–11g) including fleet vehicles purchase and campus security camera work — approved as part of consent motions recorded in open session.
- Approve Personnel schedules (F1002, L949, T317, G660) including appointments and resignations — Motion by Miss Riddle; seconded by Miss Gonzales; approved on roll call.
- Ratify April 2025 board bills and payments (03/05/2025–04/01/2025): accounts payable $3,745,188.03; manual checks $1,755,556.81; Old National Bank insurance $906,325.90 — Motion by Mister Riddle; seconded by Miss Gonzales; approved on roll call.
- Expulsion resolution for student number 015 (modification to five‑day out‑of‑school suspension, reprimand, individualized safety plan) — Motion by Miss Bridal; seconded by Miss Lindsey; approved.

The board moved into a closed session after the votes; closed‑session exceptions read at the start of the meeting included personnel and pending litigation references.

Ending: The motions approved clear several operational and instructional contracts and finalize personnel transactions and a disciplinary resolution. A full copy of the board packet and the adopted motions were referred to during the meeting record; community members may review posted board materials for item‑level details.","At its April 8 meeting the Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 Board of Education approved multiple consent agenda renewals, personnel appointments and resignations, ratified April bill payments, and concurred with the superintendent’s modification of a mandatory expulsion to a five‑day out‑of‑school suspension.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board members press for more professional development as teachers resign; debate over evaluation and culture

District reports monthly site visits, new phonics curriculum tied to end‑of‑unit gains in K–5

Speakers at Waukegan board meeting sharply criticize superintendent, board counsel and district management

Board approves consent items, personnel actions and expulsion modification; ratifies April payments